TBH I can see no real cause for complaint about this so called tax ..... as long as the implementation is sensible and therein lies the problem. Can we trust the Government to implement anything sensibly?
People with too many bedrooms for their needs, as defined by whatever legislation eventually comes, have a choice and as long as there is an appeal system, with independent adjudication, then it makes a lot of sense. After all I have four bedrooms and frankly could make do with two as the boys could share, as I did with my brother, and the daughter is now only here for a few weeks each year. But I like having this many rooms, until it comes to cleaning that is. Anyway I have to pay my council tax on the value of the property with its 4 bedrooms, two of which would be deemed as surplus were it a local authority or social housing so why shouldn't others? AND let's not forget that here in Wales we were all revalued four years ago whereas in England the revaluation of properties was abandoned so our council tax is higher anyway.
So who needs an extra bedroom? I would hope that any appeal panel would see that even a pensioner with children who visit regularly or a single parent with access rights would have an obvious need to be able to accommodate their visitors. After all when access arguments go to court one consideration is the suitability of the accommodation that the parent is able to offer his/her visiting children and it would be plain wrong that such people would be denied their parental rights because the children had no bedroom ..... and that has been used as a reason to deny residential access to some in the past.
And where should those dispossessed move to? Until there is sufficient housing of suitable size then simply asking them to pay for their spare room is also wrong but if a sensible choice is offered then it becomes a different matter ...... So we need more social housing to be built. Get that right Mr Duncan - Smith and we can think about your plans .... until then you have no chance.
